Rotary reed switch actuator



Nov. 8, 1966 H. H. OLSON 3,284,739 ROTARY REED SWITCH ACTUATOR Filed July 19, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet l [/2 0, 37320-20 0 0 For Kiowa Fl 3 INVENTOR HERBERT H. OLSON 50 E Bfimmm ATTORNEYS Nov. 8, 1966 H. H. OLSON ROTARY REED SWITCH ACTUATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

Filed July 19. 1965 IN VENTOR H ERBERT H. OLSON ATTORNEYS G I T United States Patent 3,284,739 ROTARY REED SWITCH ACTUATOR Herbert Harold Olson, Jackson, MlClL, assignor to Sparton Corporation, Jackson, Mich, a corporation of Ohio Filed July 19, 1965, Ser. No. 472,811 16 Claims. (Cl. 335-152) The invention pertains to electric switch apparatus, and particularly relates to switching apparatus employing reed switches, and is concerned with apparatus for actuating reed switches.

A reed switch of the type used with the invention consists of a nonmagnetic envelope, usually a glass bulb, in which are located a pair of magnetic reeds or leaves on which electric contacts are mounted. The reeds are each connected to a conductor which extends from the bulb and the bulb interior is sealed and substantially evacuated, or filled with an inert gas. The reeds and contacts are normally separated in an open relationship. Upon a magnetic field being brought into proximity to the reed switch, the reeds will act as conductors of the magnetic field, and the normally spaced contacts will be closed due to the magnetic forces acting on the reeds. Such switches are normally used to control low voltages. Their operation is very dependable and they are capable of efficiently operating over long periods of time.

As reed switches are actuated by magnetic forces, the actuators usually include a permanent magnet which may be moved from a position adjacent the switch to close the contacts to a position remote from the switch to permit the contacts to open. A number of devices 'have been manufactured and are available for actuating reed switches. As reed switches readily lend themselves to miniaturized circuits and computer use, a number of various arrangements for reed switch mounting and actuation are available. One of the problems arising frorn the use of reed switches results from the fact that it is often difiicult to confine the operating magnetic field to the switch which is to be actuated. Thus, if several reed switches are disposed adjacent to each other, the presence of a magnetic field adjacent the switch to be actuated may accidentally aifect the adjacent reed switches and inadvertently close circuits which are not intended to be closed. To prevent such accidental operation of reed switches and still produce a concise apparatus employing a plurality of reed switches, various types of shielding and magnetic force conducting means have been used. However, the conventional practice in a reed switch actuating apparatus is to space the reed switches a sufficient distance apart to prevent undesirable actuation by a stray magnetic field.

It is a basic object of the invention to provide a unique method and apparatus for actuating a reed switch wherein a plurality of reed switches may be disposed in a concise arrangement, yet, only that switch which is to be operated at a given time will be afiected by the operating magnetic field;

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for operating a reed switch wherein the source of the magnetic field is moved through a nonlinear path of movement which rapidly approaches and withdraws from the magnet to be operated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for operating a reed switch wherein the source of the operating magnetic field is moved through a cycloidal-type path of movement to rapidly approach and withdraw from the reed switch to be operated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a reed switch actuating apparatus wherein a plurality of reed switches may be concisely arranged and yet the operating magnetic field will operate only that reed switch which is desired to be operated and will not affect adjacent reed switches.

3,284,739 Patented Nov. 8, 1966 An additional object of the invention is to provide a reed switch actuator which is of the rotary type and wherein the source of the magnetic field for operating the reed switches moves in a hypocycloidal path of movement about the aXis of rotation of the switch actuator apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide a reed switch actuating apparatus wherein a plurality of reed switches may be readily assembled in any one of many arrangements and wherein a great deal of versatility and flexibility of design is possible, yet, the apparatus is of an economical and readily manufacturable design.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotary reed switch actuator adapted to actuate a plurality of reed switches wherein the sequence of switch actuation may be readily varied, and wherein a plurality of switching sequences may be produced with a single switch.

Yet an additional object of the invention is to provide a rotary reed switch actuating apparatus which may be operated at relatively high speeds of rotation as to be adaptable for power driven application.

These and other objects of the invention arising from the details and relationships of the components of an embodiment thereof will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the theory of the invention wherein the source of the magnetic force travels along a cycloidal path,

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the inventive concept of the invention wherein the source of magnetic force travels along a hypocycloid'al path of movement concentrically related to an axis of rotation,

FIG. 3 is an elevation-a1 side view of a rotary reed switch actuating apparatus in accord with the invention,

FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of the switch of FIG. 3, only a portion of the reed switches being shown and the base plate not being illustrated,

FIG. 5 is an elevational, sectional view of the switch apparatus of FIG. 3 taken along section VV thereof,

FIG. 6 is an elevational, sectional view of the switch apparatus of FIG. 3, taken along section VI-VI thereof,

FIG. 7 is a detail, perspective view of a magnet holder and gear assembly as used in the apparatus of the described embodiment, and

FIG. 8 is an elevational, sectional view similar to FIG. 6, however, illustrating an embodiment thereof wherein the ring gear may be rotatably shifted.

The basic concept of the principle employed in the invention can be best appreciated with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. With reference to FIG. 1, a plurality of reed switches of conventional construction are indicated at 10 in end view, the reed switches being disposed in a linearly spaced manner as defined by line 12. The source of the magnetic field to operate the desired reed switches is a permanent magnet 14 mounted upon a drum or wheel 16 adapted to roll along line 12. A pole of the magnet 14 is represented at 18 and lies in the periphery of drum 16. The axis of rotation of the drum is represented at 20, and it will be appreciated that as the drum 16 rolls along the line 12 to translate the axis 20 in a horizontal direction parallel to the line 12, the mag-net pole 18 will move along the cycloidal path or curve illustrated at 22. The cycloidal path consists of a plurality of arches 24, each terminating at a terminus 26 lying upon the line 12. The reed switches 10 and 10" are those adapted to be actuated by the magnet 14 and are, therefore, located at the termini of the cycloidal path of the magnet pole 18. It will, therefore, be appreciated that due to the characteristics of the cycloidal curve, the magnet pole 18 directly approaches and withdraws from the magnets 10 and 10 through a path which is remote from the reed switches adjacent the reed switches 10' and 10". While the path of movement of the magnet pole 18 as it approaches and withdraws from the reed switches and 10 is not actually perpendicular to the line 12, it is close to being normal thereto and, thus, the angle of approach and withdrawal from the reed switches 10' and 10" by the magnet pole is such as to prevent accidental influence of the magnet field to operate the reed switches adjacent the switches intended to be operated.

FIG. 2 illustrates the concept of the invention wherein a plurality of equally spaced reed switches 28 are arranged in an equidistant manner about an axis 30. In FIG. 2 it is desired to operate reed switches 28 with a permanent magnet 32 having a pole 34. The permanent magnet 32 is mounted on a drum or wheel 36 adapted to rotate about an axis 38. The axis 38 is, itself, adapted to rotate about the axis 30 in an orbital manner as to produce an effect wherein the drum 36 will roll along the circle 40. Such movement will cause the magnet pole 34 to describe a path as illustrated by the arches 42. Such a path is a hypocycloidal curve consisting of a plurality of arches 42, each beginning and ending at a terminus 44. The reed switches 28' to be actuated by the magnet 32 are located just outside of the circle 40 at the termini 44. With the hypocycloidal curve of FIG. 2, it will be appreciated that the magnet pole 34 approaches and withdraws from the reed switch 28' at an angle which will prevent accidental operation of the adjacent reed switches, and the basic inventive concept of FIG. 1 is practiced with the hypocycloidal curve of FIG. 2. In the specification and claims, the use of the term cycloidal-type path of movement is intended to include both the cycloidal curve of FIG. 1 and the hypocycloidal curve of FIG. 2, as well as similar type curves which may not be true cycloids but have the characteristics thereof resulting in a direct approach and with drawal from a reed switch located at a curve terminus.

The following embodiment of an apparatus incorporating the method of reed switch actuation of the invention employs the concept schematically illustrated in FIG. 2.

The switch apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 7 includes a pair of end plates 46 and 47 of a generally rectangular configuration. The end plates 46 are provided with a base flange 48 extending perpendicularly to the general plane of the plates permitting mounting upon base plate 50, and recessed holes 52 are defined adjacent the corners of the plates for receiving elongated screws 54 Y which, together with spacing sleeves, as will be later described, maintain the spacing of the end plates. The end plate 47 is provided with a hole in which a bearing 56 is defined, and the plate 46 is provided with a hole 58 in which a ball bearing is mounted, and the switch actuating shaft extends therethrough.

A ring gear mounting plate 62 is afiixed to the inner side of the end plate 46 and includes a cylindrical opening 64 which is concentrically disposed to the bearing 60. A ring gear 66 is received within the opening 64 and is of an axial width substantially equal to that of the plate 62. The ring 66 is internally providedwith teeth 68 oonce-ntrically disposed to the bearing 60. As best appreciated from FIG. 5, four screw and washer assemblies 70, which thread into threaded holes defined in the plate 62, maintain the ring gear 66 within the opening 64 and fix the ring gear to prevent rotation thereof.

The spacing sleeves 72 mounted upon the connecting screws 54 space a printed circuit board 74 from the ring gear plate 62, as will be apparent from FIG. 3. Similarly, the insulated printed circuit board 76 is spaced from the end plate 47 by spacing sleeves 78. The printed circuit boards may be of similar configuration, and include an internal circular hole 80 which is concentrically related to the bearings 56 and 60. A plurality of radially extending conducting segments 82 are defined on the opposed facing sides of the boards 74 and 76, and the segments are each provided with a hole 84 adapted to receive a conductor of 'a reed switch. As many segments 82 are defined on the circuit boards as reed switches to be employed with the apparatus. The holes 84 are so located as to be equally spaced from the center of the holes that the reed switches may be disposed in a circular manner as will be apparent from FIG. 6. A large hole 86 is de fined in the board 76 to permit the reed switch wiring to extend therethrough.

The printed circuit boards 74 and 76 are maintained in spaced, parallel relation by spacer sleeves 88 mounted on screws 54, and the spacing is such as to permit the reed switches 90 to be interposed between the circuit boards in the manner apparent from FIG. 3. The reed switches 90 each include a glass bulb 92, in which the reeds and contacts are located, and a conductor 94 extends from each end of the reed switches. One of the conductors 94 of each switch 90 is disposed in the holes 84 defined in the printed circuit board 74 and the other conductor 94 of the reed switches is disposed in the holes 84 defined in circuit board 76. The conductors 94 are soldered to the associated printed circuit segment 82. A plurality of insulated wire conductors 96 are associated with the printed circuit board 74, a conductor being soldered to each of the segments. In the illustrated embodiment, it is preferred that each of the segments 82 of the printed circuit board 76 be interconnected by a conductor whereby only a single insulated wire conductor 94 is needed with the board 76. Of course, the wiring of the printed circuit boards is a matter to be determined by the particular application of the switch actuator. The wire conductors 94 extend through the hole 86 defined in the printed board -7 6 and a hole 98 defined in the end plate 47, whereby the conductors pass into a cable 100 associated with a plugin type connector 102.

The reed switches 90 are actuated by permanent magnets. As best illustrated in FIG. 7, the permanent magnet support consists of a nonmagnetic drum 104 having a pair of diametrically disposed holes 106 bored therein. The holes 106 are disposed at right angles to each other and each contains a small, cylindrical magnet 108. The poles of the magnets 108 are preferably flush with the surface of the drum. The drum 104 is supported upon axles 110 extending from the ends thereof which includes a spacer portion 112 and a bearing portion 114 at one end. At the opposite end, the axle includes a bearing portion 116 having a spur gear 118 afiixed thereto. The gear 118 is of a diameter substantially corresponding to the diameter of the drum 104.

Two magnet-supporting assemblies shown in FIG. 7 are employed in the disclosed embodiment. The magnetsupporting assemblies are supported upon :a pair of circular plates 120 which include aligned bearings 122 for receiving the bearing portions 114 and 116 defined upon the drum axles. The plates 120 are maintained in parallel, spaced relationship by an actuating shaft 124 interconnecting the plates. In the disclosed embodiment, the drums 104 are disposed in opposed diametrical relation upon the plates 120.

The actuating shaft 124 extends through the bearing 60 defined in the end plate 46 and has a knob 126, FIG. 3, aifixed thereto. The right end of the actuating shaft 124, FIG. 4, extends into the bearing 56 defined in the end plate 47. In-this manner it will be appreciated that the plates 120 and the magnet drum assemblies defined thereon are capable of rotation relative tothe printed circuit boards and the end plates about the axis of shaft 124.

The opening 80 in circuit board 74 is of sufiicient diameter to provide clearance for the drum axle portions 116 and to permit the gears 118 to be inserted therethrough for cooperation and mating engagement with the teeth 68 defined on the ring gear 66.

Operation of the reed switch operating apparatus, in accord with the invention, is as follows:

As the gears 118 are of a diameter equal to the magnetsupporting drums 104 and as-the diameter of teeth 68 is aypproximately equal to that of hole 80, it will be appreciated that the poles of the magnets 108 will describe a hypocycloidal path as shown in FIG. 2, as the actuating knob 126, shaft 124, plates 120 and drums 104 are rotated about the axis of the shaft 124. The gears 118 act as planetary gears and, as the plates 120 rotate about the axis of shaft 124, the drums 104 will be simultaneously rotating about their axles 110. As the reed switches 90 are disposed from the axis of the shaft 124 a distance which is only slightly greater than the radius of the ring gear teeth 68, it will be appreciated that the relationships illustrated in FIG. 2 are present in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 7.

When initially assembling the apparatus in accord with the invention, the screws 70 may be unloosened and the ring gear 66 slightly rotated relative to the plate 62 to initially align the magnet poles to the reed switches to produce the relationship shown in FIG. 6 wherein a magnet pole is disposed adjacent a reed switch at a terminus of a hypocycloidal arch. In the described 'embodiment, the diameter of the drums 104 and the spacing between the reed switches 90 is such that consecutive reed switches are actuated as the knob 12-6 and shaft 124 are rotated. Thus, in the disclosed embodiment a given pole of a magnet will operate every fourth reed switch.- As the poles of the magnets travel through a hypocycloidal path of movement, only that reed switch which is to be actuated by a particular magnet pole will be operated by that pole, and inadvertent actuation of the reed switches will not occur for the reasons described relative to disclosures of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of the invention whereby an angular shifting of the ring gear is possible to change the magnet pole and reed switch relationship. Similar elements to those previously described are indicated by primes. As will be apparent from FIG. 8, the ring gear mounting plate 62' provided with an opening 128 through which a pin 130 extends. The pin 130 is mounted on the ring gear 66' whereby shifting of the pin from the full-line position of FIG. 8 to that of the dotted-line position will angularly rotate the ring gear relative to the ring gear plate 62'. Thus, merely by shifting the pin 130 between the two positions, rotation of the gears 118' and the associated magnet drums can be accomplished without rotation of the shaft 124 to change the position of the termini of the cycloidal path defined by the magnet poles.

In the disclosed embodiment wherein the magnets within the drums 104 are disposed at right angles to each other, movement of the pin 130 to the dotted-line position can be of such a degree as to rotate the magnet drums 90, which would place a different magnetic pole in operative position relative to a given reed switch. Moving thepin half-way between the positions illustrated in FIG. 8 would render the magnets inoperative to operate any of the reed switches 90 and, thereby, selectively deactivate the switch apparatus even though the shaft 124 was rotated by the knob 126.

It will be appreciated that it would be possible to use a different number of magnet drums on the plates 129 than the two illustrated. For instance, 1, 3, 4, 5 or even 6 magnet drums could be mounted on the plates 120. Of course, these modifications would produce a different reed switch actuation sequence than in the described embodiment. Furthermore, by locating the reed switches in nonequally spaced relationships by relocating holes 84, it would be possible to relate a reed switch to a given magnetic pole so that the reed switch was only actuated once during each complete revolution of the shaft 124. Thus, by varying the number of magnet drums 104 on the plates 120, by predetermining the position of the magnets 108 on the drums, and by varying the spacing between the reed switches 90, a great variety of switch actuation sequences can be obtainable with this type of structure. Also, by using the adjustable ring gear embodiment of FIG. 8 with a given switch spacing arrangement, a number of different switching sequences can be obtainable with a single switching apparatus, especially when the reed switches are not an equally spaced distance apart.

As the magnet pole is only disposed adjacent the reed switch, and does not come in contact therewith, it will be appreciated that the shaft 124, plates and associated magnet drum structure may be very rapidly rotated without imparting undue strain or forces on the apparatus, and the speed at which the shaft 124 may be turned is only limited by the response time of the reed switches. Thus, the apparatus in accord with the invention is adaptable to motor driven applications.

It is understood that various modifications to the disclosed embodiment, yet incorporating the inventive concept, may be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended that the invention be defined only by the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Electrical switch apparatus comprising, in combination,

(a) a pair of electrical contacts, at least one of said contacts including :a magnetic support whereby opening and closing of said contacts is regulated by the influence of magnetic forces on said magnetic support,

(b) a magnet support,

(c) means supporting said magnet support for rotary movement about a given axis and for a translatory movement in a direction transversely disposed to said axis, said means adapted to move said magnet support adjacent said magnetic contact support during its path of movement,

(d) a magnet mounted on said magnet support and spaced from said axis as to move through a cycloidaltype path of movement upon rotary and translatory movement of said magnet support, said magnetic con-tact support being positioned so as to be located adjacent the terminus of a cycloidal-type arch described "by said magnet path of movement whereby said magnet approaches and withdraws from said magnetic contact support in a cycloidal-type path to open and close said electrical contacts.

2. Electrical switch apparatus comprising, in combination,

(a) a pair of electrical contacts,

(b) magnetic contact support means supporting at least one of said contacts whereby opening and closing of said contacts is regulated by the influence of magnetic forces on said magnetic contact support,

(c) amagnet, and

(d) means for moving said magnet in a cycloidal-type path of movement, said path of movement including an arch and a terminus, said contacts being located adjacent said terminus whereby said magnet approaches and withdraws from said contacts and magnetic contact support in a cycloidal-type path to selectively open and close said contacts.

3. Reed switch actuating apparatus comprising, in combination,

(a) a reed switch having a pair of electrical contacts mounted upon magnetic leaves,

(b) a magnet, and

(0) means for moving said magnet in a cycloidal-type path of movement, said path of movement including an arch and a terminus, said reed switch being supported adjacent said terminus whereby said magnet approaches and withdraws from said reed switch in a lcycloidal-type path to selectively open and close said contacts.

4. Reed switch actuating apparatus comprising, in combination,

(a) a magnet,

(b) means for moving said magnet in a hypocycloidaltype path of movement about a given axis, said path of movement including an arch and a terminus, said terminus defining the location of said magnet at the greatest radial distance from said axis during its path of movement, and

(c) a reed switch supported adjacent a terminus of said magnet path of movement whereby said magnet approaches and withdraws from said reed switch in a hypocycloidal path of movement.

5. Reed switch actuating apparatus comprising, in combination,

(a) a magnet,

(b) means for rotating said magnet about a given axis,

(c) means for radially displacing said magnet relative to said axis during rotation thereof about said axis, said magnet being radially displaceable between a first position located the maximum distance from said axis and a second position located the minimum distance from said axis, said first and second positions cyclically occurring during rotation of said magnet, and

(d) a reed switch supported adjacent said magnet first position adapted to be actuated by said magnet as it approaches and withdraws from said first position.

6. Reed switch actuating apparatus comprising, in combination,

(a) a magnet,

(b) means for moving said magnet in a hypocycloidal path of movement about a given axis, said path of movement including a plurality of arches each terminating at a terminus, said termini defining a circle concentric to said axis, and

(c) a plurality of reed switches supported at a common distance from said axis and each located adjacent a hypocycloidal path terminus whereby said magnet approaches and withdraws from said reed switches along said hypocycloidal path of movement to operate said switches.

7. Reed switch actuating apparatus comprising, in combination,

(a) a support member,

(b) a crank arm mounted on said support arm for rotation about a first axis,

(c) a magnet support mounted on said crank arm adapted to rotate about a second axis which is in spaced relation to said first axis and parallel thereto,

(d) a magnet mounted on said magnet support,

(e) means adapted to rotate said crank arm,

(f) means adapted to rotate said magnet support about said second axis in a predetermined relationship to the rotation of said crank arm whereby said magnet travels in a hypocycloidal path of movement, said path of movement including arches defined at each end by a terminus, and

(g) at least one reed switch mounted on said support member spaced from said first axis a distance greater than that of said second axis and adjacent a terminus in the path of movement of said magnet whereby said magnet is adapted to operate said reed switch upon being disposed adjacent thereto.

8. In a reed switch actuating apparatus as in claim 7 wherein:

(a) a plurality of reed switches are mounted on said support member, said switches being substantially equally spaced from said first axis and each located adjacent a terminus in the path of movement of said magnet.

9. Reed switch actuating apparatus comprising, in combination,

(a) a support member,

(b) a crank arm mounted on said support arm for rotation about a first axis,

(c) a magnet support mounted on said crank arm adapted to rotate about a second axis which is in spaced relation to said first axis and parallel thereto,

(d) a magnet mounted on said magnet support,

(e) a first gear defined on said support member concentric to said first axis,

(f) a second gear mounted on said magnet support in mesh with said first gear causing said magnet support to rotate about said second axis upon said crank arm rotating about said first axis, and

(g) at least one reed switch mounted on said support member spaced from said first axis a distance greater than that of said second axis and adjacent a terminus in the path of movement of said magnet whereby said magnet is adapted to operate said reed switch upon being disposed adjacent thereto.

10. In a reed switch actuating apparatus as in claim 9 wherein:

(a) a plurality of reed switches are mounted on said support member, said switches being substantially equally spaced from said first axis and each located adjacent a terminus in the path of movement of said magnet.

11. In a reed switch actuating apparatus as in claim 9:

(a) means mounting said first gear for angular adjustment about said first axis whereby adjustment of said first gear relative to said support member changes the angular relationship of the path of movement described by said magnet relative to said reed switch.

12. Reed switch actuating apparatus comprising, in

combination,

(a) a pair of spaced support plates,

(b) a shaft rotatably mounted upon said plates and extending therebetween,

(c) a pair of spaced supporting elements mounted on said shaft and radially extending therefrom,

(d) a magnet support mounted intermediate said supporting elements for rotation thereon about an axis parallel to said shaft and spaced therefrom,

(e) a magnet mounted on said magnet support having a pole spaced from the magnet support axis of rotation,

(f) a first gear fixed relative to and intermediate said support plates concentric to said shaft,

(g) a second gear mounted on said magnet support and meshing with said first gear,

(h) a pair of spaced printed circuit boards disposed between said support plates transversely disposed to said shaft, said boards being located on opposite sides of said magnet support in the axial direction of said shaft, and

(i) a plurality of reed switches each having a pair of conductors extending therefrom in opposite directions,

mounted on said circuit boards, a conductor of each switch being associated with each circuit board, said switches being disposed on said boards a substantially uniform radial distance from said shaft and adjacent the path of movement of said magnet support whereby selected switches are approached by said magnet pole during rotation of said shaft. 13. The method of operating a reed switch having electric contacts supported on magnetic reeds comprising the steps of (a) supporting the reed cation, I (b) rotating a magnet having a pole about a given axis of rotation, (0) simultaneously translating said rotating magnet in a direction transverse to said given axis, the rate of rotation and the rate of translation of said magnet being so related that the magnet pole describes a cycloidal-type path of movement including arches having termini, and

(d) moving said magnet pole past said reed switch whereby said reed switch is located adjacent a terminus of the pole path of movement.

14. The method of operating a reed switch as in claim 13 wherein:

(a) said magnet is rotated at a rate of rotation so reswitch in a predetermined lolated to the rate of translation of said given axis that the magent pole describes a cycloid path of movement.

15. The method of operating a reed switch having electric contacts supported on magnetic reeds comprising the steps of:

(a) rotating a magnet having a pole about a first axis,

(b) simultaneously rotating said first axis about a second axis spaced from said first axis and parallel thereto, the rate of rotation of said magnet pole about said first axis and the rate of rotation of said first axis about said second axisbeing so related that said magnet pole describes a hypocycloidal path of movement having arches and termini, the termini being equally spaced from said second axis, and

(c) locating a reed switch adjacent at least one of the termini of the path of magnet pole movement for actuation by the magnet pole magnetic field during .10 movement of the magnet through its path of movement.

16. The method of operating a reed switch having electric contacts supported on magnetic reeds comprising the steps of:

(a) moving a magnet pole through a cycloidal-type path of movement having arches and termini, and

('b) locating a reed switch adjacent a terminus of the cycloidal-type path of movement for actuation by the magnetic field of the magnet pole.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,872,597 2/1959 Ormond 20087 X 3,105,232 9/1963 Boots 20087 X BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

' J. I. BAKER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. ELECTRICAL SWITCH APPARATUS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, (A) A PAIR OF ELECTRICAL CONTACTS, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID CONTACTS INCLUDING A MAGNETIC SUPPORT WHEREBY OPENING AND CLOSING OF SAID CONTACTS IS REGULATED BY THE INFLUENCE OF MAGNETIC FORCES ON SAID MAGNETIC SUPPORT, (B) A MAGNET SUPPORT, (C) MEANS SUPPORTING SAID MAGNET SUPPORT FOR ROTARY MOVEMENT ABOUT A GIVEN AXIS AND FOR A TRANSLATORY MOVEMENT IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSELY DISPOSED TO SAID AXIS, SAID MEANS ADAPTED TO MOVE SAID MAGNET SUPPORT ADJACENT SAID MAGNETIC CONTACT SUPPORT DURING ITS PATH OF MOVEMENT, (D) A MAGNET MOUNTED ON SAID MAGNET SUPPORT AND SPACED FROM SAID AXIS AS TO MOVE THROUGH A CYCLOIDALTYPE PATH OF MOVEMENT UPON ROTARY AND TRANSLATORY MOVEMENT OF SAID MAGNET SUPPORT, SAID MAGNETIC CONTACT SUPPORT BEING POSITIONED SO AS TO BE LOCATED ADJACENT THE TERMINUS OF A CYCLOIDAL-TYPE ARCH DESCRIBED BY SAID MAGNET PATH OF MOVEMENT WHEREBY SAID MAGNET APPROACHES AND WITHDRAWS FROM SAID MAGNETIC CONTACT SUPPORT IN A CYCLOIDAL-TYPE PATH TO OPEN AND CLOSE SAID ELECTRICAL CONTACTS. 